BACKGROUND

Equally with other indigenous green leafy vegetables, L. has been widely consumed by the VhaVenda tribe found in the Limpopo Province of South Africa since ancient times as a source of food diversification due to its higher-quality nutritional value, sustainability, food security, and medicinal benefits. It is mostly cultivated from seeds in seedling trays and transplanted in the open field, and at the maturity stage, marketing and distribution are mainly conducting through informal markets (i.e., street vendors). However, recently, it can be found in selected supermarkets and commercial grocery stores in South Africa. The leaves and young shoots of are cooked solely and/or as a supplementary vegetable with L. subsp. (Chinese cabbage), L. (spinach), L. (green amaranth), L. (tomato), and/or cooking oil for flavor.

OBJECTIVE

Contrary to other green leafy vegetables, few studies have been conducted on the metabolites released by and the influence of growing conditions on the metabolites thereof.

METHOD

A H-nuclear magnetic resonance tool was used to identify the untargeted metabolites released by , and spectra were phase-corrected and binned with MestReNova and statistically analyzed with SIMCA 18.0.2.

RESULTS

The findings showed that a total of 12 metabolites were detected between the growing conditions. Eleven similar metabolites, such as glycocholate, chlorogenate (human health benefits), caffeine for its bitter taste, choline, 3-Chlorotyrosine (antidiabetic, blood pressure), etc., and a few vital soluble sugars, were detected in samples grown in the open field and greenhouse-cultivated. Glucose was exclusively detected in the grown under greenhouse conditions.